Imagine going about your daily routine in the kitchen, only to discover mysterious black dots appearing out of nowhere. This is exactly what happened to one woman, sparking her concern and leaving her searching for answers. She turned to the internet community, posting pictures on a Facebook group and asking, “Does anyone have any idea what these points might be?”
To her surprise, a few suggestions came in. One person suggested that she might have a spider problem, and that the black dots could be spider droppings. While this may sound unsettling, it’s important to understand that spiders do not leave solid excrement like other pests. Instead, their droppings are thicker and more liquid in nature, resembling ink stains that commonly appear on walls and surfaces.
The truth is, these droppings contain a mixture of leftover food and other residual components that are released by the spider’s body. But before we jump to conclusions, let’s take a closer look at spiders and their droppings.
Spiders are often a source of fear and dread for many people, causing more consternation than mice, birds, flies, or cockroaches. There is a common misconception that spiders will attack without warning, injecting their venomous fangs into anyone nearby, with the belief that a spider bite will be painful and potentially lethal.
However, pest management professionals (PMPs) argue that spiders do not pose as great a health risk as other indoor pests. Mice, flies, and various other pests can contaminate our food and cause more harm to human health than spiders do.
That being said, there have been debates among entomologists regarding the health benefits or risks associated with spider droppings. Some questions that arise include: Is spider poop safe? How harmful is it if a common spider species defecates on our food, preparation tables, or any object that could come into contact with our mouths?
Researchers have found that filth flies, for instance, can carry common human pathogens such as Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., Salmonella spp., and E. coli. These bacteria can be found in their excrement, posing a potential health risk.
However, when it comes to spiders and their droppings, there has been less scientific study. That’s where Melissa Gaver-Wainwright, an entomology graduate student at Washington State University, comes in. In her early research, she swabbed a fecal sample from a sterilized container and analyzed it to detect any bacteria present.
Surprisingly, the spider feces showed no identifiable bacteria. This puzzled researchers, as some studies indicate that certain spiders’ venom and blood contain antibacterial properties. These broad-spectrum antibacterial peptides have been shown to be effective against bacteria such as E. coli, Staphylococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., and Pseudomonas spp.
While this study focused on the black widow spider (Latrodectus Hesperus), it raises interesting questions about other species of web-building spiders and their potential bacteria-free droppings. Further research is needed to explore different molecular approaches and expand our understanding of this topic.
Ultimately, when it comes to indoor health concerns, controlling filth flies may be more important than controlling spiders. While spider droppings are not ideal indoors, they do not pose as significant a risk to human health as other pests. So, the next time you come across black dots in your kitchen, take comfort in knowing that spiders are more helpful than harmful.
